Abstract
As research and applications of conventional materials are reaching their potential limits in recent years, composite materials and structures find more and more applications in engineering, such as the aerospace, automotive, ship-building, off-shore piping, and infrastructure industries. In fact, research and applications of composites are currently one of the most popular areas in both science and technology, covering fundamental and applied science including physics, chemistry, and material science, as well as applied mechanics, engineering, and processing technologies. Study on composites moves on from conventional macro-scale to micro- and nano-scale, involving multi-scale and multi-functional issues as well as interdisciplinary approaches. This Special Issue aims to disseminate the most recent research findings and developments in the field.
A total of 46 papers on a broad variety of topics were submitted to the Special Issue by the cut-off date. The diversity of topics in the papers is an indication of the broad and vibrant nature of the field. All of the manuscripts were reviewed rigorously and 23 of them were accepted as full papers. The subjects of the accepted papers involved the following:
Conventional reinforced concrete structures (1 paper);
Steel or fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP)-concrete composite members (3 papers);
Steel-fiber-reinforced concrete members (1 paper);
FRP concrete members (1 paper);
FRP elements (2 papers);
Surface functional structures (1 paper);
Bionic objects (2 papers);
Fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (2 papers);
Metal materials (1 paper);
Porous materials (2 papers);
Piezoelectric materials and components (2 papers);
Functionally graded materials (1 paper);
Magnesium-based alloys (1 paper);
Pyroelectric materials (1 paper);
Nanomaterials and carbon nanotube–reinforced materials (2 papers).
The investigated problems cover structural behavior of composite members/structures, mechanical properties of composite materials, interfacial behavior and bond properties, design of composites, bio-inspired design, sound absorption, impact analysis, surface effect, interface effect between fluid and pyroelectric material, piezoelectric vibration energy harvesting, heat transfer of micro-finned surface, electromechanical coupling, and behavior of nanocomposite components. The investigation methods involve analytical study with classic mechanics, finite element analysis and numerical simulation, and experimental testing.
The contributors have diversified backgrounds including, but not limited to, mechanical engineering, material science and engineering, electronic engineering, civil/structural engineering, aerospace engineering, bionic engineering, and engineering mechanics and mathematics. Papers in this Special Issue provide a snapshot of the ongoing research in the field; however, it does not represent all of the state-of-the-art advancements and current interesting topics. We hope that this Special Issue would contribute in disseminating the latest progresses in the field and to also stimulate the interests of its readers to work in this important and vibrant area.
We would like to thank all the authors for their contribution in this Special Issue. We are also indebted to the referees for their time and valuable comments, criticism, and suggestions. We also appreciate the support of the publisher and the editorial board of the journal for organizing this issue.